W
windlessuser
Guest
A blessed day to you all,
I’m a 21 yr old Cradle Catholic. I followed the instruction of my Mother (my father is a non-believer) and parish, and received the sacraments when I was of the appropriate age. As a child I took most of the stuff for granted. I went through with it, because I was told the right thing to do. In grade 10 however, that’s when I developed a real and true passion for my faith. I live in a protestant society, that’s predominantly Seventh Day Adventist. I won’t lie, there were attacks from all around. Questions to my faith that I couldn’t answer. Worst yet, I was the lone catholic in my who;e year (to my knowledge).
This did not push me away from the faith. It prompted me to learn more, so that I could answer them. I began asking my Mother and Priest questions. And the more I knew, the stronger I felt. However, despite the increase in my knowledge base, I always find myself doing poorly at apologetics. My brother in Christ is usually already set in his own views, jsut unable to see my point of view. I guess this is probably rooted in my knowledge coming more from Catechism than the actual scriptures. I have later learned that we Catholics know the bible more than our protestant bothers and sisters give us credit for. We go through the bible once every 3 years. We also commit those famous bible stories to memory during our childhood education. Its just that we don’t know the exact chapter and verse more than half the time, though we do know what the bible says and teaches.
Now in my search for knowledge, I’ve read many books on various controversial topics of our faith and even church history. Currently working on going through the catechism myself. I wish to eventually be a Catechist like my Mother. Though she says and admits that I know more about the church than she does, I still don’t feel quite ready yet. Maybe its because I don’t think I do that well in apologetics with my friends?
In terms of my personal Christian walk. I pray every day to just thank God for all the mercies he’s shown me, and try to live by the beatitudes(to me, the seem to be the best summary of what it means to be a child of God). When I still lived with my mom and dad I used to give time at the local infirmary. During University, I was an active member of our catholic group always willing to serve and have even served on the executive body last year. In my home parish, I served on the Alter for a number of years, and helped train the new comers. In my new parish, next to my university I’m currently a Lector.
I’m currently in a relationship with a Wonderful mature young woman. We’re courting and thinking of getting married after we’re done with school.She’s baptist. How they view worship and God is noticeably different. God means so much to her, which is an integral part of my attraction to her. The Bible is very important to her and her church, and I feel the seeds of Sola Scriptura. She got me a Daily Bread which she tries her best to keep current with. She gets on my case alot, when I don’t keep up. I won’t lie I hardly keep up. Her grandfather was a recent convert to the faith. He taught her about the rosary, and its apart of his daily devotions to God. She reminds me that I have yet to do the rosary with her. Family devotions are really important to her. She says that reading the bible is very important in having a good relationship with God. She’s of the opinion that I’m not doing enough…For that I feel very inadequate. She made a good point, what’s the point of knowing all the theology if it doesn’t make you a better person and keep you in good standing with God? We have a mutual friend who is also very knowledgeable of the bible and theology, yet he’s an apostate…
I just don’t know. I thought I was doing my best. I tried to live by what I’ve learned. Even to the point of detriment. I help people to the point where I have nothing left to give… At one confession, my confessor suggested that I should take a break from it, as it has done alot of damage to me as a person (the selfless giving of myself).I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
What are your thoughts? Have a blessed Sunday.
I’m a 21 yr old Cradle Catholic. I followed the instruction of my Mother (my father is a non-believer) and parish, and received the sacraments when I was of the appropriate age. As a child I took most of the stuff for granted. I went through with it, because I was told the right thing to do. In grade 10 however, that’s when I developed a real and true passion for my faith. I live in a protestant society, that’s predominantly Seventh Day Adventist. I won’t lie, there were attacks from all around. Questions to my faith that I couldn’t answer. Worst yet, I was the lone catholic in my who;e year (to my knowledge).
This did not push me away from the faith. It prompted me to learn more, so that I could answer them. I began asking my Mother and Priest questions. And the more I knew, the stronger I felt. However, despite the increase in my knowledge base, I always find myself doing poorly at apologetics. My brother in Christ is usually already set in his own views, jsut unable to see my point of view. I guess this is probably rooted in my knowledge coming more from Catechism than the actual scriptures. I have later learned that we Catholics know the bible more than our protestant bothers and sisters give us credit for. We go through the bible once every 3 years. We also commit those famous bible stories to memory during our childhood education. Its just that we don’t know the exact chapter and verse more than half the time, though we do know what the bible says and teaches.
Now in my search for knowledge, I’ve read many books on various controversial topics of our faith and even church history. Currently working on going through the catechism myself. I wish to eventually be a Catechist like my Mother. Though she says and admits that I know more about the church than she does, I still don’t feel quite ready yet. Maybe its because I don’t think I do that well in apologetics with my friends?
In terms of my personal Christian walk. I pray every day to just thank God for all the mercies he’s shown me, and try to live by the beatitudes(to me, the seem to be the best summary of what it means to be a child of God). When I still lived with my mom and dad I used to give time at the local infirmary. During University, I was an active member of our catholic group always willing to serve and have even served on the executive body last year. In my home parish, I served on the Alter for a number of years, and helped train the new comers. In my new parish, next to my university I’m currently a Lector.
I’m currently in a relationship with a Wonderful mature young woman. We’re courting and thinking of getting married after we’re done with school.She’s baptist. How they view worship and God is noticeably different. God means so much to her, which is an integral part of my attraction to her. The Bible is very important to her and her church, and I feel the seeds of Sola Scriptura. She got me a Daily Bread which she tries her best to keep current with. She gets on my case alot, when I don’t keep up. I won’t lie I hardly keep up. Her grandfather was a recent convert to the faith. He taught her about the rosary, and its apart of his daily devotions to God. She reminds me that I have yet to do the rosary with her. Family devotions are really important to her. She says that reading the bible is very important in having a good relationship with God. She’s of the opinion that I’m not doing enough…For that I feel very inadequate. She made a good point, what’s the point of knowing all the theology if it doesn’t make you a better person and keep you in good standing with God? We have a mutual friend who is also very knowledgeable of the bible and theology, yet he’s an apostate…
I just don’t know. I thought I was doing my best. I tried to live by what I’ve learned. Even to the point of detriment. I help people to the point where I have nothing left to give… At one confession, my confessor suggested that I should take a break from it, as it has done alot of damage to me as a person (the selfless giving of myself).I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
What are your thoughts? Have a blessed Sunday.